Amazon Email Scam

[goodgoalie]

In the past three weeks I've had two emails purporting to come from Amazon, confirming my subscription to Amazon Prime for £179, with a link to cancel. I have not taken out such a subscription (or had any dealings at all) with Amazon, but the email is very convincing, and these sorts of emails always worry me - I've had similar ones in the past from iTunes.

Needless to say, I have not clicked on the link, but was wondering if any ABers have had similar from 'Amazon', and is it worth forwarding the email to [email protected]?

[chelle7272]

I've not had any, always worth forwarding in my view.

[jennyjoan]

Yes I have Goalie - but I must say that when the subscription came out of my bank account - I contacted them (Amazon) and they immediately paid back the monies.

They have been very good.

[Togo]

Likely scam Goalie, there are many different versions of the Amazon phishing email doing the rounds. As you have wisely said, do not open any links or under any circumstances provide personal details, including bank details, passwords, home address, or name of you first pet etc. Most of these emails start Dear Sir/Madam rather than the user name of your account and you should access your account through the official site to make any checks on account history or recent purchases. Another one that is now doing the rounds purports to come from Sky wanting to refund you for an overpayment, these scammers may also ring on your landline or mobile to make it even more confusing. The best safety feature on you devices is you.

[goodgoalie]

Thanks, Togo. Am sure it's a scam, but it looks very convincing - am going to check my bank account and ring my credit card provider just to reassure myself, though don't see how they could have got any bank/card details in the first place.

[Togo]

Another little trick to beware of, the scammers also sometimes include a tick box to opt out of further emails (just like a genuine site). Guess what though. Checking the box confirms that you are a genuine email address, and you get blitzed with bogus emails.

[aelmpvw]

i get amazon scam emails on a weekly basis and just delete them

[Togo]

If you have an Amazon account Goalie, logging on from the official Amazon site will allow you to check on all recent activity. If there is something there then take the step with your card provider as you intend to. Perhaps if you ring your card provider and report concern they will just cancel it and issue a replacement, with all the attendant agro of new pin nos. etc, when there was no need to.

[goodgoalie]

Don't have an account, with them, Togo - at least I don't think I do as haven't used them for over 5 years, so I assume that the details of the card I used then (to buy a book) would no longer be valid, as I've been issued with a new card since then, which will have a different number

[Togo]

Haha, Goalie. Try logging on then......and remembering your 5 year old password. If you get the account up it will allow you to view the details of any payment card that you have used or registered on the site. It does not show the full card details just the last 3 digits(I think or the last 4). If you current card has not been registered or used then that is what the phishers are after.

[goodgoalie]

Have logged in to my Amazon account (using 'forgotten password?' and they sent a link to set a new password to my email address) and there doesn't seem to be anything at all about this so-called subscription to Amazon Prime, which reassures me somewhat

[gingejbee]

....subscription to Amazon Prime is £79....not £179, unless that was your accidental error.....

[goodgoalie]

No, the email says Amazon Prime One-year Plan £179

[Togo]

That must confirm your initial insight then Goalie. The email was a scam and you look OK. If you log on using your new password(they are pretty quick) you should be able to enter account details which will confirm that only your now out of date card details are held in records and all is well. You will now no doubt get genuine emails from Amazon asking you to try Prime free on a 30 day trial because Amazon will recognise you account as active again now you have logged on. My advice would be not to waste your money if you are not using Amazon on a regular basis.

[goodgoalie]

Might have shot myself in the foot rather by re-activating my Amazon account - now I'll get genuine emails from them!

[ducksie]

I never received that e-mail but thanks for alerting us to the scam, I'll be aware of it now should it be sent to me

[Togo]

You can opt out Goalie from your account settings.

[goodgoalie]

Many thanks, all